Airplane mail loading and unloading device



G. BURTON Feb. 13, 1945.

AIRPLANE MAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 2'?

6'05 BURTON Feb. 13, 1945. BURTON AIRPLANE MAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 G05 BURTON k 7 M NM Feb. 13, 1945, BURTON 2,369,133

AIRPLANE MAIL LOADING ANDUNLOADING DEVICE Filed Nov; 27, l94l 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 13, 1945. G. BURTON 2,369,133

AIRPLANE MAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Nov. 27, 1941 4 Sheets-She et 4 Patented Feb. 13, 1945 AIRPLANE MAIL LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Gus Burton, Wadley, Ga.

Application November 27, 1941, Serial No. 420,728

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an airplane mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicient means for picking-up mail bags or other containers by a moving airplane from a moving crane or support.

A further object ofthis invention is the production of a simple and efficient runway and moving crane which is so'constructed as tofacilitate the delivery of a mail bag and the like to and from a moving plane,

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient mail bag pickup mechanism for facilitating the picking-up of mail and the like by a moving airplane.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Figure '1 is a side elevational View of the mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the runway, certain parts being broken away;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 isa vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken o n line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figures is a side elevational view of the airplane used in connection with the present invention, certain parts being broken away and one of the mail bag cranes being shown in relative position;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 9-9. of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the arrow;

.Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-3 looking in the opposite direction of the arrow Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view sections which are adapted to cover the runway;

and

ranged to extend slightly above the surface of the runway Ill. The rollers of one row are preferably arranged in transverse staggered relation relative to the rollers of the adjoining rows, as shown in Figure 2. The runway l0 comprises side angle rails I3 and end rails M, as well as a plurality of longitudinally extending inverted T-shaped roller supporting stringers l5 and it. The traction rollers l2 are provided with spiral grooves as shown, and are journaled, as shown, upon the rails 13 and stringers l5 and 16. The spaces between the rollers l2 are filled with cement, concreteor similar material H, and the runway is constructed so as to provide pockets for the rollers l2, which pockets may be suitably drained.

The stringers l6 define a longitudinal channel length of the runway lll. An upper trackway I9 is supported by the frame ll just below the stringers l6 and a bottom trackway 28 is supported by the trusses 2| of the legs 22 of the frame H, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper trackway 19 is provided'with a longitudinal slot 23, as shown in Figure 4. Suitable braces 24 brace the runway l0 upon the legs 22. Side cross braces 25 are also provided. -A suitable base 26 is provided for the legs 22.

A crane carriage 21 is mounted upon the trackways l9. and 20 and is adapted to move Iongitudinally of the runway ID, This carriage 21. carries the upper rollers 28 and the lower rollers 29, the upper rollers 28 contacting the bottom face of the trackway l9 and the lower rollers 29 contacting the upper face of the trackway 20. The carriage 21 travels longitudinally between the upper and lower trackways, as shown in Figure 3. A crane-supporting plate 30 is carried by theupper ends of the vertical rods 3| of the carriage 21 and these rods. are threaded for receiving the nuts 32 to hold the plate 30 in an adjusted vertical position to freel travel in the channel IS. A plurality of cranearms 33 are pivotally secured to the plate 30 and these arms 33 are arranged to swing upwardly and stand' at an angle of approximately 45 pointing toward the pick-up airplane. Some of the arms 33 are adapted to be selectively used for supporting Figure 14 is an enlarged end elevation of one mail bags for' delivery to an airplane approachi [8 throughout the major portion" of' the,

bar 52 of the treadle plates 53.

ing one end of the runway l0, and other arms 33 are adapted to be swung at an opposite angle and to be selectively used for supporting mail bags for delivery to an-airplane approaching the opposite end of the runway Ill. The arms 33 are adapted to fall upon the plate in the diat its rear end 62 to the body of the airplane. The V forward end of the scoop BI is suspended upon rection of travel of the pick-up plane after the mail bag has been removed. Each arm 33 is provided with a retaining hook at its outer end which opens in the direction of travel of the pick-up plane with which it is adapted to cooperate so that the pick-up airplane may easily remove a mail bag from the crane arms.

A catapult device 34 is located at each end of the frame H and is adapted to set the carriage 21 in motion as hereinafter described. Each catapult device 34 comprises a carriage-receiving fork 35 which is carried by anupwardly extending flat spring 35 secured at its lower end 31 to the frame I I. The upper end of the fiat spring 36 is connected to one end of the plunger rod 38 by means of a link 39. The rod 38 is slidably mounted through the end wall 40 of the frame I l' and the spaced guide 4|. An expansion coil spring 42 is interposed between the guide 4 l and a collar 43 carried by the rod 38 to drive the rod 38 toward the carriage 21 when the rod 38 is released. A trigger 44 is pivoted, as at 45, above the rod 33 and this trigger 44 is provided with a forwardly extending finger 46 which carries a roller.

41 for engaging a lug 48 carried by the rod 38, as shown in Figure 3, to hold the rod 38 in a retracted position. An upwardly extending finger 49 is carried by the trigger 44 and this finger 49 is engaged by a tension coil spring 50. One end of the spring 50 is anchored to the end wall 40 to normally pull the trigger 44 into locking engagement with the lug 43. The rearward extremity of the trigger 44 carries a roller 5| which is adapted to fit under and support the depending U-shaped Two of the treadle plates 53 are preferably carried at each end of the frame I l The plates 53 are hinged at their forward ends 54. A bell-crank lever 55 is pivoted at 56 to the end of the frame II and one end of the lever 55 is connected to the rod 38, as

at 51. An operating rod 58 is connected to the. opposite end of the lever 55 to facilitate the setting of the rod 38. Any suitable means may be attached to the rod 58 or lever 55 for operating the same, or the rod'58 may be manually depressed for setting the catapult 34, as shown.

The operation of the catapult 34 is as followsz The rod 58 is depressed thereby swinging the lever 55 to pull the rod 38 to a set position whereby the lug 48 is moved in front of the roller ,41, the spring 53 automatically pulling the trigger 44 to the set position shown in Figure 3. The roller 5! of the trigger 44 when in this position will lift the treadle plates 53 to a set position, When the landing wheels of an approaching airplane strike the treadle plates 53, the trigger 44 will be depressed with the plates 53 and the roller 41 will be lifted out of engagement with th lug 48. The springs 36 and 42 will shoot the rod 33 inwardly toward the carriage 21 which is engaged by the fork 35 and the impact will drive the carriage 21 1 longitudinally of the runway l0 thereby enabling 1 an airplane of proper construction as hereinafter described, to'pick up a mail bag or other article supportedupon the carriage while the carriage 21 is traveling in the same direction as the air- 1 plane and at a predetermined proper speed.

A pick-up airplane 60 is used with the present I invention and a pick-upscoop 61 which is hinged;

adjustable hanger rods 63 which are connected in the hydraulic cylinders 64 with suitable pistons 35. The cylinders 64 are preferably mounted to permit a slight swinging movement as the rods 63 are raised and lowered to raise and lower the scoop 6|. A reservoir 66 is carried by the airplane and communicates with the cylinders 54. A suitable two-way valve controls the passage of hydraulic pressure to the selected ends of the cylinders 64 to move the pistons 65 in the desired direction for raising and lowering the scoop 6|.

Suitable center opening gates 61 are hinged near the sides of the body of the airplane and are adapted to normally close the bottom of the body of the airplane below the scoop when the scoop is retracted. Suitable spring hinges are provided to cause the gates to normally close and to permit the scoop to extend downwardly between the gates while swinging the gates to an open position, as shown. 'A receiving tray 68 is located at the rear upper end of th scoop 6| to receive the mail bag as it is forced up the scoop 6]. As shown in Figure 9, the scoop is wider at its forward end thanat its rear end. the scoop tapering inwardly as shown. Rollers B9 are carried by the scoop to.

tuated door 12 at the top thereof to permit mail. bags to be placed within the compartment 14 and a spring pressed door or dropping gate 13 is carried by the bottom of the compartment or recep tacle 14, and this gate 13 is so supported as to normally remain in a closed position but to open when the same is released by the control latch 14 which may be of suitable structure.

A transversely extending channel trackway 15 is carried at'each end of the runway I0, and this trackway 15 extends laterally beyond the sides of the runway. A pair of roof sections 16 extend longitudinally of the runway and these roof sections 13 are carried by rollers 11 which travel in the trackways 15. The roof sections 16 are provided at each end with overhanging arms 18 within the trackways 15 when the roof sections 16 are closed. The roof sections 16 are provided with suitable overlapping flanges 19 at their abutting edges to provide a weather seal for the roof sections 16 when the roof sections 16 are in a closed position.- Suitable sprocket wheels may be carried by the shafts or axles which support the rollers 11 and chains 81 are passed over the sprocket wheel or wheels 80 so that these chains may be reached by an operator and by pulling the chains the sprocket wheels 88 may be rotated imparting rotary movementto the rollers 11, in this way facilitating the movement of the roof sections to andfrom a closed position over the runway it]. I

- From the foregoing description it should be understood that the loading and unloading mail plane approaches the runway I0 and when the; wheels of the plane strike the treadle plates 53,

the trigger 44 will be depressed thereby releasing the catapult 34 and setting the carriage 21 in motion to travel in the direction of the arrow indicated on Figure 1. The mail bags or other articles carried by the crane 33 which may be of suitable length are picked up by the scoop BI and the momentum of the plane will cause the mail bag or other article to roll up the inclined scoop to the position where the mail bag is deposited in the receiving tray 68. When delivering mail an operator may release the latch 14 and a mail bag or other article will drop as the door 13 opens and fall from the bottom of the plane upon the runway In, the bag passing over the traction rollers I2 and the speed of travel of the bag will be gradually decreased as the mail bag or other article passes over the intermediate sections between the traction rollers of the runway. The traction rollers I 2 alsofacilitate the passing of the plane over the runway.

As illustrated, a catapult is arranged at each end of the runway, the runway may be of any suitable or desired length to provide proper momentum for the traveling carriage which supports the mail to be loaded and to receive the mail which is unloaded from the moving plane. The speed at which the carriage travels may be regulated by the strength of the springs and the catapult structure 34.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. Having described the invention, what is claimed 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a runway, a plurality of vertically spaced trackways mounted adjacent the runway, a carriage mounted between and movable longitudinally upon the trackways and also movable longitudinally of the runway, said runway having a longitudinally extending channel, a crane-supporting plate mounted upon the carriage and adapted to travel in said channel, article-supporting cranes pivotally mounted upon said crane-supporting plate andmovable to and from an operative position, and catapult means adapted to be actuated by a co-operating aircraft for setting said carriage in motion.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a runway, a plurality of vertically spaced trackways mounted adjacent'the runway, a carriage mounted between and movable longitudinally upon the trackways and also movable longitudinally of the runway, said runway having a longitudinally extending channel, a crane-supporting plate mounted upon the carriage and adapted to 'travel in said channel, article-supporting cranes pivotally mounted upon said crane-supporting plate and movable to and from an operative position, catapult means adapted to be actuated by a cooperating aircraft for setting said carriage in motion, said plate being vertically adjustable on said carriage.

3. An apparatus of the class described-comprising a trackway, a runway extending in a substantially horizontal plane and also extending longitudinally of and upon either side of said trackway, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement upon the trackway, catapult means mounted at one end of the trackway andadapted to set said carriage in motion,- said catapult means comprising a carriage-engaging member, a spring-pressed actuating rod, a stop lug carried by the actuating rod, a trigger for holding said actuating rod in a retracted position, said trigger having a lug-engaging end for engaging said stop. lug, and treadle means engaging the opposite end of aid trigger and adapted to actuate the trigger for releasing the trigger from said actuating rod.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a trackway, a runway extending in a substantially horizontal plane and also extending longitudinally of and upon either side of said trackway, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement upon the trackway, catapult means mounted at one end of the trackway and adapted to set said carriage in motion, said catapult means comprising a carriageengaging member, a spring-pressed.actuating rod, a stop lug carried by the actuating rod, a trigger for holding said actuating rod in a retracted position, said trigger having a lugengaging end for engaging said stop lug, treadle means engaging the opposite end of said trigger and adapted to actuate the trigger for releasing the trigger from said actuating rod, and means for holding said lug-engaging end of said trigger in engagement with said lug for holding said actuating rod in a set position.

5. An apparatus of the class described com- .prising a trackway, a runway extending in a substantially horizontal plane, and also extending longitudinally of the trackway, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement upon the trackway, article-supporting means mounted upon the carriage, means for vertically adjusting the article-supporting means upon the car-.

riage to support the article-supporting means in proper relative position relative'to the runway, and article-supporting cranes pivotally mounted upon said article-supporting means and trackway to permit an article to be lifted from said carriage by an airplane passing over said runway, driving means for moving said carriage longitudinally of the trackway, and means actuated :by said treadle means for rendering said driving means active when the landing gear 01 an airplane directly engages said treadle means.

GUS BURTON. 

